Carnation plant named ‘Hilcati’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Carnation plant named ‘Hilcati’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; large double red-colored flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HILCATI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCarnation plant, botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, growncommercially as a potted plant and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Hilcati’.

The new Carnation plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new freely-branching Carnationplants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Carnation plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in May, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Dianthuscaryophyllus identified as code number A 565254-01, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Dianthuscaryophyllus identified as code number A 26270-01, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Carnation plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environmentin Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in July, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Carnation plant by terminal cuttingspropagated in a controlled greenhouse environment in Aalsmeer, TheNetherlands since 2008, has shown that the unique features of this newCarnation plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Carnation have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Hilcati’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Hilcati’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCarnation plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded        plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large double red-colored flowers that are positioned above        and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Carnation differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation are more freely flowering than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Flower petals of plants of the new Carnation are more rounded        in shape than flower petals of plants of the female parent        selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Carnation are darker red in        color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Carnation differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation are more freely flowering than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation have larger flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Carnation are darker red in        color than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Carnation have shorter peduncles than        plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Carnation can be compared to plants of the Carnation‘Napoli’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inAalsmeer, The Netherlands, plants of the new Carnation differed fromplants of ‘Napoli’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flower petals of plants of the new Carnation were not as        rounded as flower petals of plants of ‘Napoli’.    -   2. Flower petals of plants of the new Carnation were more        emarginate than flower petals of plants of ‘Napoli’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Carnation were lighter red in        color than flowers of plants of ‘Napoli’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Carnation plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Carnation plant. The photograph comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Hilcati’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Aalsmeer, The Netherlandsand under conditions and practices which approximate those generallyused in commercial potted Carnation production. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 16° C. to 22° C. Plants were pinched one timefour weeks after planting. Plants were three months old when thephotograph and the detailed description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Hilcati’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus            caryophyllus identified as code number A 565254-01, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus            caryophyllus identified as code number A 26270-01, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at 20° C. to            25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium in density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading            and mounded plant habit; narrow inverted triangle.        -   Branching habit.—Freely-branching growth habit; when            pinched, about seven lateral branches develop; dense and            bushy growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 16.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 18.7 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 11.6 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 136B and 137A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 8.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 9 mm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A to            137B; towards the base, close to 143C. Developing leaves,            lower surface: Close to 137C; towards the base, close to            143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C;            venation, close to N137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to N137C; venation, close to 143A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Large double flowers; flowers            terminal and axillary, either solitary or in clusters of            three; freely flowering habit with typically about 35            flowers developing per plant; flowers positioned above and            beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; flowers face            mostly upright.        -   Fragrance.—Flowers moderately fragrant; sweet, clove-like.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous through            the summer and late summer in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about 13 weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.9 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 4 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 137A to 137B; towards the            base, close to 143B.        -   Petals/petaloids.—Quantity/arrangement: About 32 per flower            arranged in several whorls. Length, outer petals: About            3.8 cm. Width, outer petals: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Roughly            spatulate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 45B;            towards the base, close to 145C to 145D. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 51B to 51C; towards the base, close to            145C to 145D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 47B;            towards the base, close to 145C to 145D. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 55B; towards the base, close to 145C to            145D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five fused in a single whorl.            Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex:            Broadly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to            147C to 147D. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            136B and 137A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils:            Quantity: About two per flower. Pistil length: About 2.6 cm.            Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 55A. Style            length: About 2.5 cm. Style color: Close to 55B to 55D;            towards the base, close to NN155C. Ovary color: Close to            150C to 150D. Fruits/seeds: Fruit and seed development have            not been observed on plants of the new Carnation.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Carnation have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Carnations.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Carnation have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Carnation plant named ‘Hilcati’ as illustrated anddescribed.